David Cameron has announced that Britain is a Christian country.

That’s sort-of true – we have a state religion, even (the Church of England).

But British Christianity, British religion, isn’t particularly zealous. Most of us don’t go to church (or mosque, or temple). We pay lip service to the religion that our parents had, but only a minority of us actually worship. 

Because the reality is that we are largely a secular nation. 

It’s not just that Cameron is wrong, though. It’s not just what he’s saying – although saying that our laws are based on the Bible is ludicrous (Seriously – have you seen some of the shit in Leviticus? It’s almost like it was written several thousand years ago).

How he’s saying it is much, much worse.

David Cameron: “We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so,”

We aren’t. One of the strengths of the UK as a nation is that people are free to practice whatever religion they so choose – including Christianity. The biggest impediment to announcing your faith would be mild embarrassment – but Britons are pretty used that. It’s almost our default setting.

So why is the fucking Prime Minister telling us that declaring our Christianity is some sort of victory over adversity?

Why is he implying that it is somehow difficult to admit your faith in this country of ours?

Why is he saying things like this?

David Cameron: “Faith must shape our values” [it helps]  people to have a ‘moral code’ ”

“[...]“even if not every Church has always got the point”

Why is he trying to divide our country into ‘Christians’ and ‘non-Christians’?

This is truly monstrous behaviour.

It would be a slippery slope argument to point out that the next step is to start limiting the rights of people who aren’t Christian (maybe starting with Muslims) – but the slope looks pretty fucking slippery from where I’m standing.

One of the great strengths of our nation is that people are free to believe – or to not believe – in whichever god they choose, and for that to have no impact whatsoever on their role or rights as a citizen.

After Cameron’s speech, I can’t pretend that I think this state of affairs is going to continue. I certainly can’t pretend that my government wants this state of affairs to continue.

This leads to an evil place; we can’t just sit back and allow this man to drag our country there.

Because Cameron just took one step closer to the abyss.

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Posted by Dave in Bastardry, Politics (17/12/2011 at 12:49).
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